mike downes quartet info
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Mike Downes Quartet [email protected] • www.mikedownes.com
The Mike Downes Quartet features four of Canada’s top jazz musicians - Mike Downes (JUNO award winner 2014), Robi Botos (JUNO award winner 2016), Ted Quinlan (JUNO nomination 2003) and Larnell Lewis (Grammy award winner with Snarky Puppy 2017). The group has been performing in various incarnations since the mid-90s. The original quartet toured Canada extensively and released their first album Forces in 1995 to great acclaim. In 2013, Downes released a new trio/quartet album, Ripple Effect, which won a JUNO award in 2014. The group continues to create music that is contemporary with a great respect for the jazz tradition. Their latest recording Root Structure (release date Sept. 29, 2017) explores lyrical compositions with a deep underlying structural integrity.
“As gifted a composer as he is a bassist." - Chris Kosky, International Society of Bassists
"Ripple Effect is a beautifully layered textural conversation with a trio performing as one harmonic train of thought... The technique and interplay between Downes and pianist Robi Botos is remarkable as their own lyrical visions become intertwined within each piece." Brent Black, Bop-N-Jazz “The four men share common musical tastes and, equally important, there is a spirit of camaraderie and a certain indescribable chemistry.” - Nick Miliokas, the Leader Post "Bright musical imaginations at full stretch.” - Geoff Chapman, the Toronto Star
Contact
Ernesto Cervini - [email protected]
Band members
Mike Downes "Mike’s time playing is delightfully inventive...his lines are clear, hip, and agile. His technique and intonation are extraordinary.” - Kim Richmond, Jazz Player Magazine "Emotionally direct, profoundly lyrical bass work." - Stuart Broomer, The Whole Note
Canadian bassist, composer, arranger, educator and JUNO award-winner Mike Downes has performed with a veritable who’s who of Canadian and international jazz artists, including Pat Metheny, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Molly Johnson, Pat Labarbera, Don Thompson and many others. His extensive discography includes recordings as a leader and sideman, many of which have been nominated for or won JUNO awards. Mike is the Bass Department Head at Humber College in Toronto.
Robi Botos has performed with Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Michael & Randy Brecker, Branford Marsalis, Pat Labarbera, Marcus Belgrave, Steve Gadd, Molly Johnson, Terri Lyne Carrington, James Blood Ulmer, Nikki Yanofsky, Jackie Richardson, Joey DeFrancesco and many more. He has won numerous awards including first prize in the International Montreux Jazz Festival's solo piano competition in 2004 and a JUNO award in 2016.
Ted Quinlan is respected as one of Canada’s most multi-faceted jazz musicians, highly skilled as a solo jazz guitarist, session player, writer, and dedicated educator. He has performed with some of the biggest international jazz stars including Chet Baker, Eddie Harris, Jimmy Smith, and Joey DeFrancesco. His recording credits are numerous, and he is the long-time Guitar Department Head at Humber College.
Larnell Lewis is a Toronto born musician, composer, producer, educator and clinician. Lewis has garnered international status with his most recent works with the two-time Grammy Award winning band, Snarky Puppy. He was featured in the September 2015 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine (USA), as well as the cover story of Music Etc/Drums Etc, As well as being a featured artist/clinician worldwide, he has performed with artists ranging from Lalah Hathaway, Gregory Porter, David Crosby, Benny Golson and Molly Johnson.
More info
Official website www.mikedownes.com
Twitter - @mikedownesmusic
Facebook - mike.downes.7186
Facebook artist page https://www.facebook.com/mikedownesmusic/
YouTube channel - youtube.com/user/mikedownesbass
Soundcloud - soundcloud.com/mike-downes-m-music
Wikipedia Mike Downes